If the number of children and their families participating in Healthy Kid Day activities is any indication, organizers for the YMCA-sponsored event can count the event a success.
Vivian Layton, program director for the Greater Brewton Area YMCA, said the event was well attended and accomplished the goal set by YMCA staff.
“Our whole purpose was to encourage children and their families to get involved in healthy activities,” Layton said. “We held the event at Burnt Corn Creek Park this year in an effort to emphasize all the park has to offer to be active in a fun way for the whole family.”
Since the Healthy Kids Day event began in 1992, the 2012 event marked only the second time the event wasn’t held on the YMCA campus, Layton said.
“Last year we were at the old Brewton Middle School location to help emphasize the possibility of a new community center there,” Layton said. “We decided to have it at the park this year, to let the public know the walking trails and the park are there waiting to be used. It was a great setting this year — plenty of shade and a nice breeze. It was great to be able to open that up to parents and families to get them interested in using this wonderful park.”
Layton said there were plenty of activties to keep the children busy, thanks to the coordinating efforts of the Healthy Kids Healthy Community committee and YMCA staff.
Others who assisted in preparation and demonstrations were D.W. McMillan Hospital staff, Jefferson Davis Community College’s School of Nursing; RSVP and the Escambia County Extension Service, the Cross Country Track team from T.R. Miller High School and Dr. Marsha Raulerson.
“The track team provided and distributed medals to the children who participated in our fun run and trike ride,” Layton said. “I think the fun run and the children’s yoga session held at the end of the day were the most well-received activities.”
Layton said 85 children and 45 families attended the event held Saturday.